The Task Force examined backgrounds, attitudes, and program needs of the nation's estimated 43,000 female inmates and looked at the practices of Federal, State, and local correctional institutions for women. The Task Force found that the average female offender, both adult and juvenile, is a minority group member, comes from a single-parent or broken home, has been a victim of sexual abuse, first started using alcohol or drugs between 12 and 15 years of age, and has been arrested from 2 to 9 times. The average adult female offender is between 25 and 29 years of age, while the average juvenile female offender is between 14 and 17 years of age. Of local jails surveyed, about 40 percent are less than 10 years old, and nearly 80 percent house female inmates separately. A significant number of State correctional facilities are not designed to house females, although many facilities are expected to build new institutions or additions to existing facilities. The number of female offenders is increasing in both State and local facilities, but very few classification systems are designed to meet the needs of female offenders. Substance abuse is reported to be high in all facilities. A detailed statistical profile of female offenders and offenses is presented, and policy recommendations to address the needs of this group are offered. 32 figures